As the new year approaches, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on the journey we’ve taken over the past twelve months. 2024 has been an incredible year for me personally and for Compass Coffee as a community. Here’s a look back at the milestones and memories that made this year unforgettable.
Becoming a Father: Welcoming Sloan
The year began with the most transformative moment of my life—becoming a father. In January, my wife Sofia and I welcomed our daughter Sloan into the world. Being a parent has taught me there’s something even more important than making real good coffee: making time for what truly matters. Sloan has not only brought immeasurable joy but also a newfound perspective on balancing priorities and cherishing every fleeting moment.
10 Years of Compass Coffee
This September, we celebrated Compass Coffee’s 10th anniversary. A decade ago, we opened our doors on 7th Street in the Shaw neighborhood, guided by a simple mission: make your day better. Since then, we've been open every single day—3,755 consecutive days—through power outages, holidays, protests, and a pandemic. It’s humbling to look back at how far we’ve come, and we’re incredibly proud of the community we’ve built.
Expanding Our Reach: 5 New Cafes
In true Compass style, 2024 saw us grow with the addition of five new cafes: West Falls Church Drive-Thru, 14th Street, Adams Morgan, Ballston, and Navy Yard. A standout achievement was the rapid turnaround of our Adams Morgan location, which went from lease signing to opening day in just 13 days! This was a testament to the extraordinary teamwork across design, facilities, and operations.
A Year of Unique Opportunities
This year also brought exciting opportunities to share our coffee beyond the cafes:
- Serving veterans at the White House: We had the privilege of bringing Compass Coffee to the South Lawn, serving those who have served our country.
- Bitcoin Conference in Nashville: At the largest Bitcoin gathering in the world, we partnered with 25 incredible volunteers to serve over 50,000 cups of coffee in just three days. It was the perfect stage to showcase our Bitcoin Blend, crafted with coffee sourced directly from Jorge in El Salvador.
- Innovating with Coinbase: As a nod to the future, we teamed up with Coinbase to pilot USDC stablecoin payments in our cafes—a small but exciting step into the world of digital currencies. Sharing coffee with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong at our Half Street cafe made for a great conversation about entrepreneurship and innovation.
Revolutionizing Coffee Roasting
After eight years of collaboration, 2024 marked the completion of our roastery automation project. By integrating custom hardware and software, we’ve transformed the roasting process into a fully autonomous operation—from unloading green coffee to packaging the final product. It’s a game-changer for efficiency and quality, ensuring every cup of Compass Coffee meets the highest standard.
This year was a whirlwind, but it’s a reminder of why we started: to create something meaningful and share it with others. Whether in our cafes, at global conferences, or at home with Sloan, 2024 has shown me the power of connection and purpose. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Here's to an even brighter 2025!
